"Read it," he said, and thrust it into Bertie's hand.
It was an intimation from the earl that Mr. Wilhelm Smythe had proposed and been accepted.
Bertie, in his passion, could not speak a word.
Fitz tore the letter into a hundred pieces, and threw the fragments into the grate.
"Cheer up! But," he said, "he shall no more have her than those pieces shall come together again. We'll show them that right is stronger than might in this case."
Bertie clasped his hand.
"You will come down with me?" he said.
"I will, and will put our plot into execution; no time must be lost."
"I'll go to-night," said Fitz. "You stay here and wait till I telegraph. I'll put it carefully so that nothing happens. I'll telegraph that 'wheat has gone up.' Then you'll know that you're to come down."